Native Plant Production Specialist

Job Description

The Native Plant Production Specialist will assist in the establishment of a native plant nursery for restoration seed increase and production at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms (Littleton, CO). This position will work closely with the Associate Director of Climate Resilience, science and horticulture staff, and partners at the Bureau of Land Management to grow, research, and develop best practices for native species seed increase and production for restoration. The Specialist will be responsible for establishing and maintaining grow outs in the greenhouse and field and collecting data to develop best practices. This is a 4-year grant funded, full-time position. Funding has been secured for the first year with the expectation that funding will be secured on an annual basis.

About Us

Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs.

For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

Denver Botanic Gardens is currently seeking a Full Time Native Plant Production Specialist in our Research & Conservation Department! Read below to see if the requirements might be a good fit for you:

Salary: $25.16 – $31.45 Per Hour

Duties & Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains fields and plants within greenhouses for native plant cultivation.
• Responsible for Native plant production management, including sowing, harvest, processing, and storage.
• Tests seed harvesting methods.
• Collects data on cultivation practices and their outcomes.
• Works with volunteers and other staff to coordinate activities and data collection.
• Coordinates with Natural Areas staff for site preparation, irrigation and weed management.
• Keeps good records to assist in report writing.
• Assists in inquiries from public and other agencies and organizations.
• Regular attendance at the worksite is required. As with all positions at Denver Botanic Gardens, the incumbent must be in good performance standing to be eligible for remote work.
• Remote work is at the discretion of management at all times.
• All Gardens employees must be committed to the mission of connecting people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.

Position Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to participate in field work. During the growing season, much of the workday will be spent outdoors.
• Ability to maintain stability under pressure and able to deal well with stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible and willing to modify plans when necessary, throughout the day.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, specifically Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and Teams.
• Must be a positive representative of the Gardens both internally and externally at all times.
• Must work with respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and the public.
• Must be committed to working safely at all times.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree and/or combination of education and equivalent experience is required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in botany, horticulture, agriculture, natural areas management, restoration, or equivalent in related field.
• Experience collecting and recording data.
• Experience with plant cultivation desired.
• Position requires a valid driver’s license.

Additional Information

Travel:

Up to 10% travel required.

Denver Botanic Gardens has an incredible benefits package for eligible employees!

• Our major benefits include a choice of Medical Plans, a Dental and Vision Plan and Life Insurance Plan. We have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA).
• The Gardens offers a generous Retirement Savings Plan with Company contribution of 6% after one year of service for eligible participants.
• The Gardens also offers paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and access to personal lines of insurance. Additional benefits include short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an RTD ECO pass.
• For eligible employees, The Gardens employment also includes a complimentary Denver Botanic Gardens Membership, access to Gardens education classes and summer concert tickets.

Come work for a place that offers you SO much more than just a paycheck!

Application Instructions

https://www.botanicgardens.org/join-give/career-opportunities